DIY bead blasting a stainless barrel

[jwc]

I would like to learn more about what it takes to bead blast the outside of a stainless barrel. What media is best to use and how do you protect the inside of the barrel? I will appreciate any other comments or suggestions regarding this too.

[bigcalidave]

Stainless is incredibly hard, if you are just trying to remove light rust / grime you will be fine with any conventional "soft" media, glass, soda, etc. Don't go cutting it up with alum oxide and you'll be fine. I'm gonna be duracoating all my... items... soon. Regular glass bead will be fine for anything on a gun except maybe be careful on some aluminum alloys.